Back rest arrangement



July 15, 1958 H. KUNZEL 2,843,190

' BACK REST ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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July 15, 1958 H. KUNZEL BACK REST ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 4. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. h BY w m WA'MLZ S.

United States Patent BACK REST ARRANGEMENT Horst Kiinzel, Arzberg, Oberpfalz, Germany Application October 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,345

Claims priority, application Germany October 18, 1954 9 Claims. (Cl. 155-478) The present invention relates to a back rest arrangement and more particularly to a back rest arrangement to be used in combination with chairs, benches and the like having springy, cushioned seating portions, such as are used for instance in cars and other vehicles.

A person sitting on such a springy, cushioned seating portion, for instance in a moving car, will experience a nearly continuous movement in alternatingly upward and downward direction. If the person at the same time leans against the back rest, which normally does not participate in the up and downward movement of the seating portion and the person thereon, the back portion of a coat worn by the sitting person will be creased and moved upwardly relative to the person wearing the same. Be-

cause of the pressure exerted by the person against the.

back rest, which pressure is also transmitted to the back portion of the coat, and also because of the body heat to which the coat is exposed, the thus formed creases will be firmly pressed into the back portion of the coat.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a back rest arrangement which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a back rest arrangement which will prevent upward moving and creasing of the back portions of coats or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against the back rest arrangement. a

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a back rest arrangement for a car seat or the like which while not participating in the up and downward movement of the seating portion of the person sitting thereon, will still prevent upward movement and creasing of the back portions of the wearing apparel worn by the person occupying the car seat or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a further reading of the description and of the appended claims.

With the 'above objects in view, the present invention mainly comprises in a seating arrangement, in combination, a back rest having a front face, and a plurality of flexible sheet material portions fixed to the front face of the back rest, the sheet material portions each having one edge portion located at a higher elevation than an opposite edge portion and being attached only at the one edge portion to the back rest so that each sheet material portion extends freely from the back rest for free movement with respect thereto except at the one edge portion, the sheet material portions being located at different elevations on the back rest with the one edge portion of all except the highest sheet material portions extending behind the opposite edge portion of the next higher sheet material portion.

The present invention "also comprises ina seating arrangement a back rest having a back supporting face, and aplurality of substantially parallel cover stripshaving each a width substantially smaller than 'the height of the back rest and arranged on the back supporting face tion.

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of the back rest firmly connected along the upper edges only thereof to the back rest and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of the strips, whereby the lower edge portion of each strip overlaps the upper edge of the next lower cover strip.

It is within the scope of the present invention to either attach the plurality of cover strips or flexible sheet mate rial portions on the back supporting face of the back rest, or to attach the same to the portion of a seat cover adapted to cover the back supporting face of the back rest.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A--B in Fig. 1 of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A-B in Fig. 1 of another preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line A- -B in Fig. 1 of a back rest provided with still another embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a further embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is yet another fragmentary elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, a plurality of substantially horizontally arranged parallel cover strips, or strip-shaped portions or folds 1 are shown, whereby the lower edge portions 5. overlap the upper edges 6 of the next lower cover strip.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the individual cover strips 1 are connected along their upper edges 6 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, cover strips 1 and cover means 2 are made of a continuous sheet of material forming cover strips or folds 1 horizontally extending parallel to each other and consisting of superimposed fold layers having outer end portions 7 and inner end portions 8. The outer end portions 7 are free and overlap the inner end portion Set the next lower fold 1. The fold layers are secured to each other at the inner end portions 8.

In all ofthe various embodiments of the present inven tion the securing or, connecting of the cover strips or.fold layers to each other or to a back rest or cover therefor may be accomplished inany suitable way known in the. art such as by stitching, other sewing .methods, gluing or the like.

Any. natural or synthetic sheet material, natural or synthetic textile fabric or any other material. suitable for instance for seat covers, or for covering upholstered fur niture maybe used as material for the cover strips, fold. layers and cover means according to the present inven, The thickness of the material may "vary greatly Patented July 15, 1958.

from a minimum thickness just sufficient to prevent premature wear and tear, to a thickness of /2 inch or more, especially in the case of foam materials as illustrated in Fig. 4. a

Cover means 2 are either part of the back rest or are firmly connected with the same in the form of a seat cover or the like and consequently cover means 2 cannot participate in the up and downward movement of the back portion of a garment Worn by a person occupying the seating arrangement. However, major portions of the cover strips or folds 1 and especially the lower edges 5 or outer end portions 7 thereof are freely movable in up and downward direction. The movability in consonance with the movements of the back portion of the garment is further increased when the cover strips, like the folds comprise two layers which are movable relative to each other. The outer faces of the cover strips or folds, except for their upper edge portions 6 and inner end portions 8 will be in contact with the back portion of the garment and will move up and downwardly with the same. Thereby any creasing or continued upward movement of the coat back or back portion of any garment worn by the person occupying the seating arrangement, will be prevented.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide parallel cover strips or parallel folds which substantially cover the entire back supporting face of the back rest, or also to arrange these cover strips or folds only on predetermined portions of the supporting face of a back rest or cover for the same.

According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the parallel cover strips 1 are made of resilient cellular material 9 and are provided with smooth outer faces 10. A person using the seating arrangement is then leaning against the smooth outer surface portions 10 of the cover strips 1. The strips of resilient cellular material 9 may be of considerably greater thickness than regular fabric strips, and because of the inherent qualities of a resilient foam material and also because of their relatively greater thickness, strips 9 are much stiffer than fabric strips. For this reason and also because of the greater thickness of strips 9, the free edge 11 will resist against the upward movement of a garment back portion, while during downward movement of the garment portion the same will easily slide along the smooth surface portion 10. Furthermore, the back rest arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 permits air circulation between the back supporting face or cover means 2 and the back portion of a garment worn by the sitting person. This will not only be beneficial to the physical well-being of the person but will also prevent or dissipate any accumulation of heat which may be a contributory cause to permanent creasing of the garment.

Referring again to Fig. 4, strips 1 are connected in any desired way, for instance by vulcanization, gluing or sewing with the back supporting face 2. According to the illustrated embodiment back supporting face 2 is firmly attached to back rest 3. It is however, also within the scope of the present invention to connect the individual cover strips 1 with cover means 2 which removably cover the back supporting face of back rest 3. The smooth surface portion 10 of the cover strips 1 may be formed of the same material of which the resilient foam material portions 9 are formed, or the smooth surface portion may also comprise a smooth fabric, foil or sheet material which is firmly attached to the underlying resilient foam material portion 9. A great variety of design and color combinations can be achieved by the corresponding choice of the color and type of material used for the smooth surface portions 10. Air circulation and air insulation is obtained not only because of the pores in the foam material but also because the overlapping lower edge portions 5 together with the upper edge of the next lower cover strip and a portion ofthe back supporting face of the back rest, form an air space 12, the size of hip i, depends on the thieknessof cover str p 1- n erally cover strips 1 are only firmly connected to the back supporting face of the back rest along their upper edges. It is however within the scope of the present invention to also connect the inner faces of cover strips 1 to the upper edge of the outer surface portion 10 of the next lower cover strip as shown by reference numeral 4.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the parallel rows of flexible sheet portions of parallel cover strips are inclined to the horizontal. This arrangement not only prevents horizontal creases but also vertical creases in the back portion of the wearers coat or other garment. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the flexible sheet material 1 portions may comprise a plurality of discrete sheet portions which are laterally spaced from each other. Fig. 6 illustrates discrete sheet portions 20 arranged in rows so that the lower edge portion of each sheet portion completely overlaps the upper edge of a sheet portion in the next lower parallel row. Fig. 7 illustrates a staggered arrangement whereby the discrete sheet portions of adja cent rows are laterally displaced in relation to each other so that the lower edge portion of each sheet portion partially overlaps the upper edges of two sheet portions lo cated in the next lower parallel row.

Fig. 8 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the parallel rows are inclined to the horizontal and each parallel row consists of discrete sheet portions laterally spaced from each other. Thus the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 includes a combination of the features illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In the illustrated embodiment the inclination of the parallel rows to the horizontal is reversed like in a mirror image relative to an imaginary vertical center line which is covered with a symmetric center portion 21 the lateral edges of which are parallel to the lateral edges of the adjacent discrete sheet portions.

The arrangement of discrete sheet portions within each of the parallel rows has the advantage that larger air spaces are created between the back portion of the garment of a person and the back supporting face of the seating arrangement This is accomplished irrespective of whether the discrete sheet portions of adjacent rows are alignedor staggered in relation to each other.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of back rest arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a back rest arrangement including a plurality of substantially parallel cover strips, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

.What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a seating arrangement, a back rest having a back supporting face; and a plurality of parallel transverse cover strips having each a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said back supporting face of said back rest firmly connected along the upper edges only thereof to said back restand spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said transverse strips, so that e lo er, ransve se edge p rtion of e ch transverse cover strip overlapsthe upper edge of the next lower transverse cover strip, whereby said lower transverse edge portions of said transverse cover strips are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said supporting face of said back rest and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

2. In a seating arrangement a back rest having a back supporting face; and a cover arrangement including cover means substantially continuously covering said back supporting face of said back rest and also including strip shaped cover portions substantially horizontally arranged parallel to each other each having a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said cover means firmly connected along the upper horizontal edges only thereof to said cover means and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said horizontal strips so that the lower horizontal edge portion of each horizontal strip shaped cover portion overlaps the upper edge of the next lower horizontal strip shaped cover portion, whereby said lower horizontal edge portions of said horizontal cover strips are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said cover means on said back supporting face of said back rest and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

3. A seat cover arrangement adapted to substantially continuously cover the back supporting face of a back rest, including cover means substantially continuously covering said back supporting face of said back rest and also including transverse strip shaped cover portions arranged parallel to each other each having a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said cover means firmly connected along the upper transverse edges only thereof to said cover means and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said transverse strips so that the lower transverse edge portion of each transverse strip shaped cover portion overlaps the transverse upper edge of the next lower transverse strip shaped cover portion, whereby said lower transverse edge portions of said transverse cover strips are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said supporting face of said back rest and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

4. In a seating arrangement, a back rest having a back supporting face; and a plurality of parallel transverse cover strips made of resilient cellular material and provided with smooth outer faces each of said transverse cover strips having a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said back supporting face of said back rest firmly connected along the transverse upper edges only thereof to said back rest and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said transverse cover strips, so that the lower transverse edge portion of each transverse cover strip overlaps the transverse upper edge of the next lower transverse cover strip, and the smooth outer faces of said transverse cover strips face away from said back rest, whereby said lower transverse edge portions of said transverse cover strips are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said supporting face of said back rest and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

t 5. In a seating arrangement, a back rest having a back supporting face; and a plurality of parallel transverse cover strips made of resilient cellular material and provided with outer faces made of smooth material other than said cellular material, each of said transverse cover strips having a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said back supporting face of said back rest firmly connected along the upper transverse edges only thereof to said back rest and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said strips, so that the lower transverse edge portion of each strip overlaps the upper transverse edge of the next lower transverse cover strip and the outer faces cover strips are adapted to engage the back. portion of a coat or other Wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said supporting face of said back rest and to.

thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

6. A seat cover arrangement adapted to substantially continuously cover the back supporting face of a back rest, including cover means substantially continuously covering said back supporting face of said back rest and also including transverse strip shaped cover portions made of resilient cellular material and provided with smooth outer faces substantially horizontally arranged parallel to each other each having a width substantially smaller than the height of said back rest and arranged on said cover means firmly connected along the upper horizontal edges only thereof to said cover means and spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the width of each of said horizontal strips so that the lower edge portion of each horizontal strip shaped cover portion overlaps the horizontal upper edge of the next lower horizontal strip shaped portion and said smooth outer faces face away from said back rest, whereby said lower horizontal edge portions of said horizontal cover strips are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said cover means on said back supporting face of said back rest and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

7. On the back supporting face of a seating arrangement a plurality of transverse flexible sheet portions each having a transverse upper edge connected with said back supporting face and a transverse lower free edge spaced a predetermined distance from said transverse upper edge, said transverse sheet portions being arranged in parallel rows, the distance between two adjacent rows 'being less than said predetermined distance, so that the lower transverse edge portion of each sheet portion at least partially overlaps the transverse upper edge of the sheet portion located in the next lower of said transverse parallel rows, whereby said lower transverse edge portions of said transverse fiexible sheet portions are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said back supporting face and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

8. On the back supporting face of a seating arrangement a plurality of transverse flexible sheet portions each having a transverse upper edge connected with said back supporting face and a transverse lower free edge spaced a predetermined distance from said transverse upper edge, said sheet portions being arranged in parallel transverse rows inclined to the horizontal, the distance between two adjacent rows being less than said predetermined distance, so that the lower transverse edge portion of each sheet portion at least partially overlaps the transverse upper edge of the sheet portion located in the next lower of said inclined transverse parallel rows, whereby said lower transverse edge portions of said transverse flexible sheet portions are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other Wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said back supporting face and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

9. On the back supporting face of a seating arrangement a plurality of transverse flexible sheet portions made of resilient cellular material and provided with smooth outer faces, each of said flexible sheet portions having a transverse upper edge connected with said back supporting face and a transverse lower free edge spaced a predetermined distance from said transverse upper edge, said sheet portions being arranged in parallel transverse rows,

the distance between two adjacent transverse rows beingless than said predetermined distance, sothat the trans verse lower edge portion of each sheet portion at least partially overlaps the transverse'upper edge of the transverse sheet portion located in the next lower of said parallel transverse rows, whereby said lower trans-verse edge portions of said transverse flexible sheet portions are adapted to engage the back portion of a coat or other wearing apparel worn by a person leaning against said back supporting face and to thereby prevent movement of said back portion of the coat or other wearing apparel relative to-said lower transverse edge portions and consequent creasing of said wearing apparel.

Sobie June23, 1936 Seaman Nov. 2-5, 1952 

